Peggy Robinson Wood, 66 years-old, of Tupelo, MS died September 17, 2016 as the result of a motor vehicle accident. Those who knew Peggy will forever treasure her sweet, sweet spirit and her fiery zest for life! Her physical limitations did not hinder the joy and love of life she shared so generously with those whose lives she touched. Through her trials on this earth, she consistently maintained a peace beyond all understanding which she always attributed to trusting in God for everything at all times in all things.
Peggy was born on January 3, 1950 in Booneville to Edna and Wilmer Robinson. Her childhood was spent in Kenosha, Wisconsin, but she lived in the Tupelo area all of her adult life. Her beloved husband, J. Terry Wood, a national renowned photographer proceeded her in death on November 15, 2009. They were both hopelessly romantic and soul mates.
Peggy was a registered nurse. She received her BSN from Ole Miss and her Masters degree in nursing from MUW in 1983. During her graduate studies, she was inducted into the National Honor, Society of Nursing (Sigma Theta Tau). Prior to returning to school for a BSN and MSN, she worked as an Associate Degree RN at NMMC for 12 years and as Head Nurse in the Emergency Room. In 1983, Peggy accepted a position as Nursing Instructor at Itawamba Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing Program. There, she was truly in her element. Her students adored her and often referred to her as their “ray of hope and sunshine”! During her tenure there, she received the “Star Instructor” award every year it was offered! This was an award selected by the students. They deemed the “best Instructor” and the “most caring”!
Another major honor awarded to Peggy was the Prestigious “Lamp Lighter Award” in 1991. This award is earned by being selected as an outstanding Community College Instructor and is a celebration of excellent teaching. Faculty members are nominated for this recognition by their department heads. Yes, teaching was the love of Peggy’s life. Although she had no biological children of her own, she nurtured thousands of children in her lifetime to become proficient and caring Nurses!
Peggy was also a Poet and a Writer. In 1990, she won first place at NMMC in the booklet entitled “Caring Thoughts for Changing Times”. This was to benefit their newly adopted motto “Close Enough to Care”.
After graduate school, Peggy joined the Navy Reserves and served in Millington, TN for more than a year. She retired early due to medical reasons with the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade.
Peggy loved cooking, gardening and old movies. Her chicken and dumplings were enjoyed by many for and wide. One of her Ministries was preparing and taking food to shut-ins and others in need. She loved her Church, St. Luke United Methodist Church and Church Family and stayed active as her health permitted. She also loved traveling and she and her husband, Terry, did much traveling until his health failed.
Her “Heart of Hearts” was her two nieces, Lindsey Waldrop Shafer and Jessica Yarber Johnston. She loved them like her on. She also loved and claimed Troy Lunceford as her son.
She was preceded in death by her husband, J. Terry Wood, her father, Wilmer Robinson, her brother in law, Roy Yarber and her beloved Pomerian, Little Bit.
Survivors include her mother, Edna Robinson of Tupelo, MS, her two step sons, Richard (Leslie) Wood of Columbus, Ohio and James Wood of Jackson, MS and one step grandson, Tyler Wood of Columbus, Ohio, her two sisters Glenda Yarber and Terry (Max) Munn of Tupelo, MS, two nieces, Lindsey Waldrop Shafer (Daniel) of Huntsville, Al, Jessica Yarber Johnston of Tupelo, MS, two great Nephews, Cruz and Sterling Shafer of Huntsville, Al and one great Niece, Mercedes Shafer of Huntsville, AL.
Pallbearers will be Zack Gory, Richard Wood, Tyler Wood, Jeremy Swindle, Steve Friedlander, James T. Wood, Andy Friedlander and Troy Luncefor
A Service of Death and Ressurection celebrating her remarkable life will be at 7 PM Today (Monday, Sept. 19, 2016) at St. Luke United Methodist Church with Rev. Rob Gill and Dr. Rick Brooks officiating. Burial will be later in the Church Columbarium. Visitation will be from 5 PM-service time today only all at St. Luke.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ankylosing Spondylitis Association of America at P. O. Box 5872, Sherman Oaks, CA. 1-800-777-8189 ext 222 or http://www.spondylitis.org/ patient resources or the Tupelo – Lee Humane Society< P. O. Box 1185, Tupelo, MS. 38802
